Overview

Early Bird Offer!

Book by the 31st of January and receive: • £50 holiday credit • Champagne reception on arrival • Welcome hamper full of local delicaciesT & Cs apply

"A Very Special Historic House and Gardens to Rent in Rural Somerset" - Winner of Gold Award for Exceptional Quality of Accommodation and Customer Service 2010 - 2015 by Visit England.

One of The Sunday Times Top 100 places to stay in 2010.

Polden Hills House is at the heart of one of England's finest tourist locations, but it is only five minutes from the M5 motorway. The house is full of family books, portraits and antiques and sleeps up to 16 in six beautifully decorated bedrooms on 22 acres of wonderful gardens and grounds.

The house and gardens are looked after by a dedicated and caring team that takes pride in providing exceptional service. On arrival, they provide a generous hamper of local foods, carefully chosen wines and locally produced apple juice. Superb cooks can be arranged for guests who want someone to prepare for a special occasion. A natural beauty therapist can be requested for guests who desire further pampering. The house has something for everyone including: a children's play area with playhouse, swing and fort; a games field; broadband internet access; and Sky satellite TV.

*An additional three people can stay at the house, two on a double sofa-bed in the Chaucer bedroom, there are also two single fold-out beds in Pooh's Corner.

*For those lookng for extra room, on the same site you'll also find Polden Hills Cottage, a charming new addition where an additional six guests can stay. This allows for smaller groups and families to enjoy this wonderful corner of Somerset, please see Polden Hills Cottage for rates. Larger parties can rent both properties exclusively allowing for 22 guests to stay, please see Polden Hills House & Cottage for information.

Good news! This property is available as a Vill’otel

Yey! Wait… what is that?It’s the perfect combo of the privacy of your own personal villa, with all the luxury and convenience of a hotel.

Property Features

InternetBBQIndoor GamesOutdoor GamesDVDWorking FireplaceHeatingCaretaker/Owner on Site

The Drawing Room, Library and Dining Room open on to extensive and peaceful gardens, which in turn lead to fields beyond. There is very little noise other than occasional 'mooing' or 'crowing' from Great Tree Farm next door. There is also a large, farmhouse-style Old Kitchen, a Breakfast Room (the former Pantry), and a Laundry (the former Larder). The maximum number that can be seated around the main Dining Room table is 14, but there is also a table suitable for 'kids' teas' in the Breakfast Room.

There are six luxuriously furnished bedrooms, most of which are named after their unusual bronze doorknockers, and four bathrooms. There are full-size beds for up to 12 people and sofa-beds for up to another 4 guests. We also have a put-u-up bed and two cots, so a range of combinations are possible.

Groups come to relax but for those that cannot leave work completely behind there is wireless broadband. For those more interested in play, a number of board games and card tables are available in the Library. We have a fold-away pool table as well as Sky TV. We also provide a grass area for football, with basketball and other ball games in the stable yard, behind the garages. The house is set in 22 acres with beautiful gardens. We nurture some very special trees, particularly the only known specimen in the UK of an unusual type of Chinese Zelkova or elm, and some very fine limes and a wide range of unusual apples and pears (help yourselves to fruit in season). The grounds include the following:

- The Tilting Yard - a small, pretty garden in front of the house.- The Main Garden - situated on the south side of the house and featuring a large lawn (a 'contemplation garden' is currently being developed).- 'Ha ha' - a large pond that separates the Main Garden from the Orchard.- The Orchard - a meadow with old apple trees, mature limes, abundant cowslips, a bog garden and a wild garden.- Bushey Close - a field beyond the Orchard; sometimes used for horses, archery or falconry.- The Walled Garden - leased out under the Channel 4 TV Landshare Scheme - which occasionally provides our guests and staff with fruit, vegetables or flowers for cutting in season.- The games field - a grassy area beyond the stable yard for football, basket ball, badminton etc. There is a children's play area with playhouse, slide and fort.- The Barbecue.- The Kitchen Garden - a pleasant area for the cook's glass of wine!- Ponds - there are various ponds on the estate that are abundantly supplied with newts, including many of the endangered great crested newts. Our former fine fish collection has helped sustain the herons of the local marshes!

Polden Hills CottageThe Cottage offers an additional 3 bedrooms, one of which is located on the ground floor.

There is a large, light open-plan living area that opens straight out onto a decking with BBQ and al-fresco dining furniture. The garden itself is private and fully enclosed, so perfect for letting children play freely, and no need to worry about the dog getting out either.

The house is located in a pretty village in Somerset, on the edge of the Polden Hills and the Somerset Levels between Glastonbury and Bridgwater, just three and a half miles from the M5 motorway.

Within easy access are many of the West Country's most beautiful spots and attractions including: Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole Caves, Dunster Castle, Exmoor, the Quantocks, Mendips, Brendon Hills, the cities of Bath and Wells, Glastonbury Priory and Tor, and Longleat.

Hot Air Ballooning - Guests can take off from the house and enjoy champagne while floating above the ground.

Victorian Carriage Rides Through the Somerset Levels - Staff in Victorian costume can collect guests at the house for a ride in a horse-drawn carriage through the surrounding countryside.

Pamper Sessions - A beautician and aromatherapist offer relaxing beauty treatments at the house, followed by a glass of Champagne.

Falconry - A falconry display can be arranged for guests. A specialist bird-of-prey handler introduces the birds and shows them in flight. Guests may hold them while wearing a protective glove.

Family Bonding - A weekend of family and individual development, discovery, dream-building and togetherness can be facilitated by All Being Well which was co-founded by the Owner/Guardian of Cossington Park

Owl Prowls and Badger Watch - Join Chris Sperring, MBE for a night of calling and conversing with tawny owls or watching badgers. There is also bird watching, dawn chorus walks and all-night wildlife safaris offered.

Murder Mystery Dinner Party - Each guest is sent an invitation letter prior to the event explaining their character and giving tips for costumes and special instructions. Two actors coordinate the evening.

Golf - For the golfing enthusiast, the house can arrange play at at the superb championship links course at Burnham & Berrow or at the traditional parkland course at Enmore. This could include a lesson with the professional and/or a video replay of the match.

Fishing - The house is well situated for coarse and river fishing and can arrange tokens from Westcountry Angling and tuition.

Archery on the Lawn - Archery can be arranged for small groups in the grounds.

Cosmic Delights - An evening visit to Charterhouse Centre on top of the Mendips for an introduction to the stars observed through telescopes, including an impressive 18" reflector in its own observatory, gives guests the chance to experience the delights of the country sky at night.

Caving - The Mendips contain some of the deepest caves in Europe and provide opportunities for caving, climbing and abseiling.

Gliding – Flights can be arranged at Mendip Gliding Club.

Shooting - A visit to the Mendip Firing Range or clay shoot, off the premises.

The nearest beaches are: Burnham-on-Sea (8 miles northwest, family beach, donkeys, brown sand which can be dangerous); Kilve (15 miles west, quiet and unspoiled beach); and Weston-Super-Mare (15 miles north, family beach, lots of attractions).

Local Walks - The Quantocks, Mendips and Brendon Hills are beautiful for walks, as are the Poldens and Glastonbury Tor. There are picnic and barbecue areas. Closer to the house, there is a footpath next to the playing fields, which leads to Bawdrip along the old railway. It is ideal for dogs, cycling and children. There is also an interesting walk along Bell Lane towards Gold Corner Pumping Station.

Region

As one of the sunniest and most rural counties in the UK, there’s plenty in Somerset to make a summer break totally memorable (and it’s still amazing picturesque no matter the season when you visit!).

And when you are staying in one of our luxury holiday homes in Somerset, you’ll want to make sure you’re visiting all the places and trying all the stuff that really makes the region unique. To that end, we’ve put together this brilliant Somerset travel guide – whether you’ve already booked or you’re just browsing, it’s full of handy info and indispensable tips!

Interested?If you’d like to book the Vill’otel serviced option, contact us on villotel@oliverstravels.com for a tailor-made quote! Typical costs range between £100-£250 per person per week dependent on requirements.

Please note that all services are subject to availability and must be requested at the time of booking.

The owners do everything to ensure that guests have relaxing, enjoyable and memorable holidays. They visit soon after guests' arrival to make sure that they can find everything needed and know how things work. A comprehensive file of information is provided in the house.

The house provide a generous welcome hamper which includes:- A generous selection of local foods- The house's own label wines- Apple juice from a nearby farm

The owners are happy to arrange for food deliveries from a quality local supplier or for a cook to prepare any meals.

The beds have high quality, middle-firmness mattresses and are made up with luxury cotton sheets and soft duvets. Every bed is supplied with a generous bundle of soft white towels.

The owners take pride in the well-equipped kitchens, which include a large range electric cooker, a combination microwave/electric oven, two dishwashers and two refrigerators.

Special Activities and Events - These include archery, falconry, carriage driving, hot air ballooning, owl and badger watch, and beauty treatments.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, so please just contact Oliver’s VIP Concierge Team to help you arrange any of those little extras that can really make the difference.

Oliver's Travels Chef Service: A Gourmet Dining ExperienceMake hosting a memorable dinner party at your villa an absolute breeze with our superb Chef Service. Our chefs will take care of everything for you from start to finish so you can just sit back and enjoy the gastronomic experience. They will bring all the necessary ingredients, cook and serve the food and even clean up afterwards. To find out more visit www.oliverstravels.com/chefs

Please note that prices may not be 100% accurate for dates outside of the current calendar year. For an accurate quote, please enquire.

Reviews

Wonderful Winter Weekend

Posted by Anonymous
on 20/01/2017

We celebrated a 70th birthday with family and friends at Polden Hills House and Cottage in January 2017. It was a fabulous way to start the year. The house has considerable charm and historic features and works superbly well for a large house party. Both the house and cottage were meticulously clean, and well and luxuriously equipped. We really appreciated the very generous hampers. Kate Hunt cooked us a delicious gourmet meal which became a highlight of the weekend. We will treasure the weekend for the many happy memories it gave us all. Thank you to the staff and owners of the house for sharing it with us. In the words of an eight year old: "This place is epic" with something for everyone to appreciate and enjoy.

Amazing property

Posted by David
on 31/08/2016

This is our second visit this year and we had a wonderful time in this amazing property which is full of character and interest. The beds are super comfortable and the house has a wonderful feel to it. The gardens are breathtaking in summer time. The children enjoyed the games provided and exploring the grounds. The kitchen was the most well equipped kitchen I have encountered and we had no problem cooking up some delicious meals for family and friends. I would thoroughly recommend Polden Hills House to anyone looking for a family friendly location for their holiday which also provides a warm welcome for the family dog. We didn't want to leave and I am sure we will be back

Live like royalty!

Posted by Mark
on 29/06/2016

We stayed for 2 nights to celebrate my 40th birthday and it was outstanding. The impact of the house as you enter the main door is amazing and only gets better as you discover room upon room of beauty. The gardens are immaculately kept with plenty of space for games or just relaxing in the delightful surroundings. There is a short walk to a pub where everybody was very welcoming. I would recommend this property to anyone who just wants to stay in beautiful surroundings and live like royalty for a few days.

Everything we wanted and more

Posted by Anna
on 02/06/2016

We really loved it here; they had everything we would have wanted and more. The kitchen was particularly well stocked up and there was a lovely hamper to greet us. The weather was gorgeous so we spent much of the time in the wonderful garden space.

Stunning house

Posted by Karen
on 10/02/2016

On arrival our expectations were so exceeded by the house itself - just stunning and there there were fabulous welcome hampers as well. As we explored it and settled into our rooms it became obvious that quality oozes from every piece of furniture and you are surrounded by the history of the house and family. The accommodation is fantastic with everything you could possible want to and lots you never dreamt you needed! Despite being awful weather the house was warm throughout and although we couldn't get to enjoy the gardens we could see that they are beautiful and surrounded by farmland. I would thoroughly recommend the venue for any gathering or event where you want to get a large group together yet still have space to relax.

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